An assembly for filling a capsule (probe)

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the filling and sealing of a container. The invention was specifically developed for and has found utility in the filling of a cavity in a container with powdered metal in a vacuum environment. After the container is filled and sealed, it is subjected to heat and pressure for compacting and densifying the powdered metal within the container.

[0002] There are systems known to the prior art which function to apply a vacuum to a container before filling the container with powdered metal and which seal the container before the container is removed from the assembly to prevent the ingress of gases into the cavity filled with the powdered metal. The problem with such prior art assemblies is the arrangement of the components and their interaction for applying a vacuum to the container, sealing the container and then sealing the container while maintaining the vacuum within the system.

[0003] It is known from US-A-3783912 to provide a beverage container filling head including a valve means for controlling flow of fluid through the filling head, and an electrically conductive probe extending longitudinally of the filling head. The probe can be moved an adjustable distance, as a separate member, from a retracted position within the filling head to an extended position where it projects from the filling head to contact liquid in an associated bottle, and thereby control termination of the bottle filling operation.

[0004] However, the present invention is concerned with a general type of filling assembly for filling a container through a receiving passage of a predetermined length therein with a material (preferably a powdered material), in which the assembly comprises a fill passage, a vacuum source for withdrawing gas from the container and the fill passage, means for supplying a controlled supply of material to the fill passage, plug magazine means arranged to deliver one plug at a time to the fill passage in order to engage and to seal the receiving passage, a snout means operable to force the plug into the receiving passage, and probe means movable to a sensing position in the receiving passage and operable to provide a "full" signal when the level of material reaches the probe means and thereby to cause termination of the supply of material to the container.

[0005] The invention is particularly concerned with providing improved probe actuation means and snout actuation means in a filling assembly of the general type referred to above.

[0006] According to the invention there is provided a filling assembly for filling a container through a receiving passage of a predetermined length therein with material, said assembly including a housing having a fill passage for communicating with the receiving passage of the container, a vacuum source for withdrawing gas from the container and the fill passage, material supply means for supplying material to said fill passage for filling the container through the receiving passage, delivery control means having an "on" condition for allowing material to flow from said material supply means to said fill passage and an "off" condition for terminating such flow and sealing said material supply means from said fill passage, plug magazine means for storing a plurality of plugs for delivering one plug at a time to said fill passage so that the plug engages the receiving passage of the container and for maintaining a vacuum seal between said plug magazine means and said fill passage to maintain a vacuum therein, a snout means having a bore extending thereinto from a distal end thereof and movable from an initial position through said fill passage to a ram position to engage a plug and force the plug into the receiving passage of the container to seal the container, probe means disposed in said bore of said snout means and movable between a retracted position and a sensing position extending through said fill passage and into the receiving passage of the container for providing a full signal when the level of material in the container reaches said probe means for controlling said delivery control means, probe actuation means for moving said probe means between said retracted position and said sensing position, and snout actuation means for moving said snout means between said initial position and said ram position, said probe actuation means being supported by said snout actuation means for movement therewith upon actuation of said snout actuation means and for movement relative to said snout means in moving said probe means between said retracted and sensing positions.

[0007] The assembly provides a consistent level of powdered material in the container regardless of the size or volume of cavity within the container and at a very precise level while a vacuum is maintained within the system.

[0008] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the assembly constructed in accordance with the subject invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing a variation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an electronic circuit suitable for use in the subject invention.

[0009] Referring first to Figure 1, a filling assembly is shown for filling a container 10 through receiving passage 12 of a predetermined length therein. The container 10 has a cavity 14 which may be of various different configurations and volumes and the receiving passage 12 extends from the cavity 14 to the exterior of the container 10.

[0010] The assembly includes a housing 16 having a fill passage 18 therein for communicating with the receiving passage 12 of the container 10. A seal assembly, generally indicated at 20, forms a part of the fill passage 18 and threadedly engages the lower extremity of the housing 16 and includes a snout and an elastomeric seal disposed in an annular recess surrounding the receiving passage 12 in the container 10 to effect an air or gas-type seal between the housing 16 and the container 10. One of various different appropriate clamping apparatuses may be utilized to hold the container 10 in position tightly against the seal assembly 20.

[0011] A vacuum source, including the vacuum passageway 22 in the housing 16, is provided for withdrawing gases from the container 10 and the fill passage 18. The passage 22 is connected to a conduit 24 which is connected to a vacuum source, such as a pump, with a valve (not shown) in the line for closing off the vacuum source.

[0012] A plug magazine means, generally indicated at 26, stores a plurality of spherical plugs 28 for delivering one plug 28 at a time to the fill passage 18 so that the plug 28 engages the fill passage 12 of the container 10. The plug magazine means 26 also maintains a vacuum seal between the plug magazine means 26 and the fill passage 18 to maintain a vacuum therein. More specifically, the plug magazine means 26 includes a cylinder 30 rotatably supported in the housing 16. The cylinder 30 is in rotative sliding engagement with the housing 16 and includes a pocket for receiving one of the spherical balls 28. Upon rotation of the cylinder 30 from the position shown in FIGURE 1 through 180°, the spherical plug 28 in the pocket of the cylinder will be dropped through the feed passage 32 whereupon the spherical plug 28 will move down the vacuum passage 22 and into the fill passage 18. The cylinder 30 may be rotated by a manually operated handle (not shown) disposed exteriorly of the housing 16. The spherical plugs 28 are housed within a tubular magazine 34 having a sealing cap 36 on the top thereof to maintain an air-tight seal within the tubular magazine 34. Once the sealing cap 36 is placed in position and a vacuum is applied through the tube 24, the interior of the tubular magazine 34 remains under a vacuum.

[0013] The assembly also includes a material supply means, for supplying powdered material to the fill passage 18 for filling the container 10 through the receiving passage 12 thereof.

[0014] The assembly includes a delivery control means, generally shown at 38, having an "on" condition for allowing material to flow from the material supply means to the fill passage 18 and an "off" condition for terminating such flow and sealing the material supply means from the fill passage 18. More specifically, the material supply means may include a container (not shown) attached to and in air-tight sealing engagement with the flange 40 for delivering powdered material into the inlet tube 42 of the delivery control means 38. The inlet tube 42 empties into a trough-shaped platform 44 which has sides and an open end. The platform 44 is attached to an electromagnetic vibrator which vibrates the trough-like platform 44 in an end-wise direction dumping powdered material off the open end of the platform 44 whereupon the powdered material falls into the passage 46 and through the valve seat 48 and flow passage 50 into the fill passage 18. The delivery control means 38 also includes the valve member 52 which is circular in cross section and has an end valve member 54 of elastomeric material which seats against a circular ridged or pointed valve seat 48 for maintaining an air-tight seal between the passage 50 and the passage 46. The container of material which is attached to the flange 40 for providing a supply of material to the vibrating platform 44 is under a vacuum and the vacuum in the supply container must be maintained.

[0015] Accordingly, upon closure of the valve member 52 against the valve seat 48, a vacuum seal is provided to maintain a vacuum in the source of material.

[0016] The assembly includes a snout means, generally indicated at 56, having a bore 58 extending thereinto from a distal end 60. The snout means 56 is movable from an initial position illustrated in FIGURE 1 through the fill passage 18 to a ram position so that the distal end 60 engages a spherical plug 28 and forces the plug 28 into the receiving passage 12 of the container 10 to seal the container 10 after it has been filled with material.

[0017] The assembly also includes a probe means, generally indicated at 62, disposed in the bore 58 of the snout means 56 and movable between a retracted position and a sensing position extending through the fill passage 18 and into the receiving passage 12 of the container 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, for providing a full signal when the level of material in the container 10 reaches the end of the probe means for controlling the delivery control means 38 for terminating the flow of material into the container 10.

[0018] The housing 16 includes a snout cavity 64 disposed above the fill passage 18. The snout means 56 includes a piston-like upper portion 66 slidably supported within the snout cavity 64. A tubular snout member 68 extends downwardly from the bottom of the piston-.like portion 56 to the distal end 60 and includes the bore 58 with the bore 58 extending upwardly through the bottom of the piston-like portion 66.

[0019] The snout means 56 includes a probe cavity 70 disposed above the bore 58. The probe means includes a cylindrical upper portion 72 slidably disposed in the probe cavity 70 and a lower extending rod-like probe 74 extending downwardly from the bottom thereof. The piston-like portion 66 of the snout means extends out of or exteriorly of the housing 16 and the cylindrical portion 72 of the probe means extends out of the piston-like portion 66 of the snout means.

[0020] The assembly includes a probe actuation means comprising the air or hydraulic-actuated cylinder 76 having a piston rod 78 extending therefrom and attached to a bracket 80 which is threadedly secured to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 72 of the probe means 62.

[0021] There is also included snout actuation means including an air or hydraulic-actuated cylinder (not shown) including a rod 84 attached to a bracket 86 which is, in turn, connected to the upper extremity of the piston-like portion 66 of the snout means 56. The cylinder 76 of the probe actuation means is connected, as indicated at 88, to bracket 86 of the snout actuation means for movement therewith upon actuation of the snout actuation means to move the snout means 56 up and down and for movement relative to the snout means in moving the probe means 62 between the sensing position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and a retracted position as is illustrated in FIGURE 2. An adjustable stop 81 limits the downward movement of the probe means 62 to precisely position the distal end or lower end of the rod-like probe 74.

[0022] A first internal seal means 90 is disposed between the housing 16 and the tubular snout member 68 of the snout means 62 for sealing the fill passage 18 from the snout cavity 64. A second internal seal means 92 is disposed between the piston-like upper portion 66 of the snout means 56 and the rod-like probe 74 of the probe means for sealing the bore 58 from the probe cavity 70. A first external seal means 94 is disposed between the snout cavity 64 and the piston-like portion 66 of the snout means 56 for sealing the snout cavity 64 from the exterior environment. More specifically, a seal support member 96 is bolted to the housing 16 and contains circular seals for engaging the exterior of the circular surface of the piston-like portion 66 of the snout means 56. A second external seal means comprising the seal 98 is disposed between the probe cavity 70 and the cylindrical portion 72 of the probe means 62 for sealing the probe cavity 70 from the exterior environment.

[0023] There is also included an ambient air supply means for selectively supplying ambient air to the snout cavity 64 below the first external seal means 94 and for supplying air to the bore 58 below the second external seal means 98. More specifically, the ambient air supply means includes a passage 100 connected to a source of ambient air con- ditionsthrough a valve and the passages 102 in the sides of the snout cavity 64 as well as the radial passages 104 in the piston-like portion 66 of the snout means 56 for supplying the ambient air into the bore 58 surrounding the tubular probe member 74.

[0024] Once the container 10 is clamped into sealing engagement with the housing 16, a vacuum is applied to the passage 22 to withdraw all gases from the system during which time the valve for supplying ambient air to the passage 100 is closed. Once the vacuum is established, the probe actuation means comprising the actuating cylinder 76 is actuated to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 against the stop 81 to move the rod-like probe 74 into the fill passageway 12 of the container 12. The delivery valve 52 is opened and the electromagnetic assembly is turned on to vibrate the platform 44 back and forth to dispense powder received from the tube 42 which, in turn, receives the powder from a container attached to the flange 40. The powder flows into the fill passage 18 and into the receiving passage 12 of the container 10 to fill the cavity 14 therein. When the powdered material reaches the lower or distal end of the rod-like probe 74, an electrical signal is provided to terminate the vibration of the platform 44 thereby terminating the flow of powdered material so that no further filling takes place. The valve 52 is then closed against the seat 48 to maintain the vacuum in the source of material. The rod-like probe 74 is retracted into the bore 58 of the tubular snout member 68 and the cylinder 30 is rotated to dispense a spherical ball 28 into position in the fill passage 18 and engaging the upper periphery of the receiving passage 12 of the container 10. The snout actuation means then moves the snout means 56 to move the tubular snout member 68 downwardly so that its lower distal end 60 engages the spherical ball to force the ball into the receiving passage 12 of the container 10 to seal the container. Thereafter, the tubular snout member 68 is retracted and the container 10 may be removed from sealing engagement with the housing 16. However, prior to removing the container 10, the ambient air valve is opened to allow ambient air or a gas, such as an inert gas, to the passage 100 and consequently into the bore 58 through the passages 104 and, in a similarfashion, the gas is allowed to flow through passages 102 aboutthe piston-like portion 66 ofthe snout means 56. This prevents the vacuum therein from allowing a surge of gas pressure to flow thereinto and carry with it any dust particles which would contaminate the interior of the assembly.

[0025] The internal seals 90 and 92 prevent foreign matter, such as dust, from entering into the assembly and the interior seals 94 and 98 are vacuum-sealed to maintain the vacuum within the system. In other words, the internal seals 90 and 92 protect the vacuum seals 94 and 98 from contamination in the system. The gas supplied through the passage 100, passages 102 and 104 prevents contaminants from surging into the system and reaching the vacuum seals 94 and 98. In addition, the vacuum seals 94 and 98 are positioned a sufficient linear distance above the internal seals 90 and 92 that the parts of the components which move downwardly into the dust or contaminated areas do not retract sufficient upwardly to engage the vacuum seals 94 and 98.

[0026] The lower or distal end of the rod-like probe 74 carries a thermistor which is shown at 106 in FIGURE 6. The thermistor 106 has an electrical resistance which varies with temperature. The circuit includes an operational amplifier 108 connected to a current drivertransistor 110, the two of which establish a constant current source which may be adjusted by a trimmer potentiometer 112. A differential amplifier 114 ground references the thermistor voltage. A voltage divider 116 is associated with a differential amplifier 118 utilized as a comparator which is, in turn, connected to a transistor switch 120 which powers a relay driver 122.

[0027] The thermistor 106 is provided with a constant current and, therefore, as the resistance of the thermistor 106 changes in accordance with a change in temperature, the voltage across the thermistor changes. The material level engaging the thermistor is a heat sink to lower the temperature of the thermistor thereby changing its resistance providing a signal which operates a relay which, in turn, provides a full signal to terminate the actuation of the vibration means vibrating the platform 44 to discontinue the supply of material to container 10.

[0028] The flow of incoming material past the thermistor is an insufficient heat sink to appreciably change its temperature but a constant level of material surrounding and contacting the thermistor is a sufficient heat sink. The embodiment of FIGURE 2 differs from the embodiment of FIGURE 1 only in the plug magazine means, generally indicated at 125. The plug magazine means 125 in FIGURE 2 includes a spherical ball feed tube 124 and a shuttle member 126 having a recess 128 therein. As the shuttle member 126 is manually pulled out of the housing 16 as guided by the pin 130, the recess 128 receives one of the spherical balls 28. When the shuttle member 128 is returned to the position shown, the spherical ball or plug in the pocket 128 moves by gravity into a recess 132 in the housing 116 as illustrated by the ball 28'. In this position a seal is effected between the shuttle member 126 and the housing 16, as indicated at 134, so as to maintain the vacuum within the system. A stop member 136 holds a spherical ball in position ready to be dropped into the passage 18. The stop 136 is retracted to allow the adjacent spherical plug to drop into the passage 18 each time the shuttle member 126 is retracted. In other words, the stop 136 retracts to pass a spherical plug and immediately reestablishes itself to receive the next spherical plug 28' from the recess 132 as the shuttle member 126 is receiving the next spherical plug 28 in the recess 128 therein.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the valve 52 is actuated between the open and closed positions by a manually actuated handle 138 attached thereto by a shaft 140 in sealing engagement with the housing disposed thereabout.

[0030] The housing 16 and the actuating cylinder for moving the actuating shaft 84 are all supported by an appropriate support structure which support structure may also support the clamping means for the container 10.

[0031] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than limitation.

Claims

1. A filling assembly for filling a container (10) through a receiving passage (12) of a predetermined length therein with material, said assembly including a housing (16) having a fill passage (18) for communicating with the receiving passage (12) of the container (10), a vacuum source (24) for withdrawing gas from the container (10) and the fill passage (18), material supply means (40) for supplying material to said fill passage (18) for filling the container (10) through the receiving passage (12), delivery control means (38) having an "on" condition for allowing material to flow from said material supply means (40) to said fill passage (18) and an "off" condition for terminating such flow and sealing said material supply means (40) from said fill passage (18), plug magazine means (26, 125) for storing a plurality of plugs (28) for delivering one plug at a time to said fill passage (18) so that the plug (28) engages the receiving passage (12) of the container (10) and for maintaining a vacuum seal between said plug magazine means (26, 125) and said fill passage (18) to maintain a vacuum therein, a snout means (56) having a bore (58) extending thereinto from a distal end (60) thereof and movable from an initial position through said fill passage (18) to a ram position to engage a plug (28) and force the plug (28) into the receiving passage (12) of the container (10) to seal the container (10), probe means (62) disposed in said bore (58) of said snout means (56) and movable between a retracted position and a sensing position extending through said fill passage (18) and into the receiving passage (12) of the container (10) for providing a full signal when the level of material in the container (10) reaches said probe means (62) for controlling said delivery control means (38), probe actuation means (76, 78, 80) for moving said probe means (62) between said retracted position and said sensing position, and snout actuation means (84, 86) for moving said snout means (56) between said initial position and said ram position, said probe actuation means (76) being supported (88) by said snout actuation mean (86) for movement therewith upon actuation of said snout actuation means and for movement relative to said snout means in moving said probe means between said retracted and sensing positions.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, further characterised by said probe means (62) comprising a thermistor (106) having a resistance which varies with temperature, a constant current source (108, 110, 112) to said thermistor (106) for heating said thermistor (106), and detection means (114, 116, 118, 120, 122) for detecting a change in resistance of said thermistor (106) in response to a change in temperature of said thermistor (106) by contact with a level of material in the container (10) to provide the full signal to place said delivery control means (38) in said "off" condition.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, further characterised by said delivery control means (38) including a platform (44) for receiving material from said material supply means (40) and vibration means for vibrating said platform (44) in said "on" condition to dispense material from said platform (44) as said platform is vibrated by said vibration means.

4. An assembly according to Claim 3, further characterised by said delivery control means (38) including a delivery valve means (48, 52) disposed between said platform (44) and said fill passage (18) and movable between an open position allowing material flow therethrough and a closed position to provide a vacuum seal between said material supply means (40) and said fill passage (18).

5. An assembly according to Claim 4, further characterised by said vibration means being in said "off" condition in response to said full signal.

6. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, further characterised by said housing (16) including a snout cavity (64) disposed above said fill passage (18), said snout means (56) being slidably supported in said snout cavity (64), and first internal seal means (90) disposed between said housing (16) and said snout means (56) for sealing said fill passage (18) from said snout cavity (64).

7. An assembly according to Claim 6, further characterised by said snout means (56) including a probe cavity (70) disposed above said bore (58) in said snout means (56), said probe means (62) being slidably supported in said probe cavity (70), and second internal seal means (92) disposed between said snout means (56) and said probe means (62) for sealing said bore (58) from said probe cavity (70).

8. An assembly according to Claim 7, further characterised by including first external seal means (94) disposed between said snout cavity (64) and said snout means (56) for sealing said snout cavity from the exterior environment.

9. An assembly according to Claim 8, further characterised by including second external seal means (98) disposed between said probe cavity (70) and said probe means (62) for sealing said probe cavity (70) from the exterior environment.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9, further characterised by including gas supply means (100, 104) for selectively supplying gas to said bore (58) of said snout means (56) below said second internal seal means (92) for relieving the vacuum in said bore (58) and said fill passage (18) prior to removing the container (10) from sealing engagement with said fill passage (18).

11. An assembly according to Claim 9, further characterised by including gas supply means (100, 102, 104) for selectively supplying gas to said snout cavity (64) below said first external seal means (94) and to said bore (58) of said snout means (56) below said second external seal means (98).

12. An assembly according to Claim 11, further characterised by said snout means (56) including a piston-like portion (66) in sliding engagement with said snout cavity (64) and extending out of said housing (16), and a tubular snout member (68) having said bore (58) therein and of smaller outer diameter than said piston-like portion (66), said tubular snout member (68) extending downwardly from said piston-like portion (66) through said first internal seal means (90) and into said fill passage (18).

13. An assembly according to Claim 12, further characterised by said probe means (62) including a cylindrical portion (72) in sliding engagement with said probe cavity (70) and extending out of said piston-like portion (66) of said snout means (56), and a rod-like probe (74) extending downwardly from said cylindrical portion (72) and through said second internal seal means (92) and into said bore (58) of said tubular snout member (68).

Ansprüche

1. Füllvorrichtung zum Füllen eines Behälters (10) mit Material durch einen Aufnahmedurchlaß (12) mit einer vorbestimmten Länge, wobei diese Anordnung ein Gehäuse (16) mit einer Füllpassage (18) zur Verbindung mit dem Aufnahmedurchlaß (12) des Behälters (10), eine Vakuumquelle (24) zum Abziehen von Gas aus dem Behälter (10) und der Füllpassage (18), eine Materialzuführeinrichtung (40) zum Zuführen von Material zu der Füllpassage (18), um den Behälter (10) über den Aufnahmedurchlaß (12) zu füllen, eine Zuführungskontrolleinrichtung (38), die einen "ein"-Zustand, um Material von der Materialzuführeinrichtung (40) zu der Füllpassage (18) fließen zu lassen und einen "aus"-Zustand, um den Zufluß zu beenden und die Materialzuführeinrichtung (40) von der Füllpassage (18) abzuschließen, aufweist, eine Pfropfenlagereinrichtung (26, 125) zum Lagern einer Vielzahl von Pfropfen (28), um jeweils einen Pfropfen der Füllpassage (18) zuzuführen, so daß der Pfropfen (28) in den Aufnahmedurchlaß (12) des Behälters (10) einrückt und um eine Vakuumversiegelung zwischen der Pfropfenlagereinrichtung (26, 125) und der Füllpassage (18) aufrechtzuerhalten, um darin ein Vakuum zu erhalten, ein Mundstück (56) mit einer Bohrung (58), die sich von einem entfernten Ende (60) in das Mundstück (56) hinein erstreckt und von einer Anfangsstellung durch die Füllpassage (18) in eine Preßstellung bewegbar ist, um einen Pfropfen (28) einzurücken und den Pfropfen (28) in den Aufnahmedurchlaß (12) des Behälters (10) zu pressen, um den Behälter (10) abzudichten, einen Meßfühler (62), der in der Bohrung (58) des Mundstückes (56) angeordnet ist und zwischen einer zurückgezogenen Position und einer Meßposition bewegbar ist, die sich durch die Füllpassage (18) und in den Aufnahmedurchlaß (12) des Behälters (10) erstreckt, um ein "Voll"-Signal zu geben, wenn der Pegel des Materials in dem Behälter (10) den Meßfühler (62) erreicht, zur Kontrolle der Zuführungskontrolleinrichtung (38), eine Meßfühlerantriebseinrichtung (76, 78, 80), um den Meßfühler (62) zwischen der zurückgezogenen Position und der Meßposition zu bewegen und eine Mundstückantriebseinrichtung (84, 86), um das Mundstück (56) zwischen der Anfangsstellung und der Preßstellung zu bewegen, wobei die Meßfühlerantriebseinrichtung von der Mundstückantriebseinrichtung (86) gehalten (88) ist für die Bewegung miteinander bei dem Antrieb der Mundstückantriebseinrichtung und für die Bewegung relativ zu dem Mundstück bei dem Bewegen des Meßfühlers zwischen der zurückgezogenen und der Meßposition, einschließt.

2. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, das der Meßfühler (62) einen Thermistor (106), dessen Widerstand mit der Temperatur-variiert, eine Konstantstromquelle (108, 110, 112) für diesen Thermistor (106) zum Erhitzen des Thermistors (106) und ein Nachweissystem (114, 116, 118, 120, 122) umfaßt zum Nachweisen einer Änderung in dem Widerstand des Thermistors (106) als Funktion einer Änderung der Temperatur des Thermistors (106) durch einen Kontakt mit einem Pegel des Materials in dem Behälter (10), um ein "Voll"-Signal zu geben, um die Zuführungskontrolleinrichtung (38) in die "aus" -Stellung zu bringen.

3. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zuführkontrolleinrichtung (38) eine Plattform (44) zur Aufnahme von Material aus der Materialzuführeinrichtung (40) und eine Schüttelvorrichtung zum Schütteln der Plattform (44) in der "ein"-Stellung einschließt, um das Material von der Plattform (44) zu verteilen, wenn die Plattform von der Schüttelvorrichtung geschüttelt wird.

4. Anordnung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zuführkontrolleinrichtung (38) ein Zuführventil (48, 52) einschließt, das zwischen der Plattform (44) und der Füllpassage (18) angeordnet ist und zwischen einer offenen Stellung, die den Materialfluß zuläßt und einer geschlossenen Stellung, die eine Vakuumdichtung zwischen der Materialzuführeinrichtung (40) und der Füllpassage (18) liefert, bewegbar ist.

5. Anordnung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schüttelvorrichtung sich auf das "Voll"-Signal hin in "aus"-Stellung befindet.

6. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Gehäuse (16) einen Mundstückhohlraum (64) der oberhalb der Füllpassage (18) angeordnet ist, wobei das Mundstück (56) verschiebbar in dem Mundstückhohlraum (64) gehalten ist und eine erste innere Dichtvorrichtung (90) aufweist, die zwischen dem Gehäuse (16) und dem Mundstück (56) angeordnet ist, um die Füllpassage (18) gegenüber dem Mundstückhohlraum (64) abzudichten.

7. Anordnung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Mundstück (56) einen Meßfühlerhohlraum (70), der oberhalb der Bohrung (58) in dem Mundstück (56) angeordnet ist, wobei der Meßfühler (62) verschiebbar in dem Meßfühlerhohlraum (70) gehalten ist, und eine zweite innnere Dichtvorrichtung (92) aufweist, die zwischen dem Mundstück (56) und dem Meßfühler (62) angeordnet ist, um die Bohrung (58) gegenüber dem Meßfühlerhohlraum (70) abzudichten.

8. Anordnung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie eine erste äußere Dichtvorrichtung (94) aufweist, die zwischen dem Mundstückhohlraum (64) und dem Mundstück (56) angeordnet ist, um den Mundstückhohlraum gegenüber der äußeren Umgebung abzudichten.

9. Anordnung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie eine zweite äußere Dichtvorrichtung (98) aufweist, die zwischen dem Meßfühlerhohlraum (70) und dem Meßfühler (62) angeordnet ist, um den Meßfühlerhohlraum (70) gegenüber der äußeren Umgebung abzudichten.

10. Anordnung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie eine Gaszuführungseinrichtung (100, 104) einschließt, um selektiv Gas der Bohrung (58) des Mundstückes (56) unterhalb der zweiten inneren Dichtvorrichtung (92) zuzuführen, um das Vakuum in der Bohrung (58) und der Füllpassage (18) vor der Entfernung des Behälters (10) aus dem dichtenden Eingriff mit der Füllpassage (18) zu entspannen.

11. Anordnung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie eine Gaszuführungsvorrichtung (100, 102, 104) aufweist, um selektiv dem Mundstückhohlraum unterhalb der ersten äußeren Dichtvorrichtung (94) und der Bohrung (58) des Mundstücks (56) unterhalb der zweiten äußeren Dichtvorrichtung (98) Gas zuzuführen.

12. Anordnung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Mundstück (56) einen kolbenartigen Teil (66) aufweist der sich in verschiebbarem Eingriff mit dem Mundstückhohlraum (64) befindet und sich aus dem Gehäuse

(16) erstreckt und ein rohrförmiges Mundstückglied (68), das die Bohrung (58) aufweist und einen geringeren äußeren Durchmesser hat als der kolbenförmige Teil (66), wobei das rohrförmige Mundstückglied (68) sich abwärts von dem kolbenförmigen Teil (66) durch die erste innere Dichtvorrichtung (90) und in die Füllpassage (18) erstreckt.

13. Anordnung nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Meßfühler (62) einen zylindrischen Teil (72) in verschiebbarem Eingriff mit dem Meßfühlerhohlraum (70), der sich aus dem kolbenartigen Teil (66) des Mundstücks (56) erstreckt, und einen stabförmigen Meßfühler (74), der sich abwärts von dem zylindrischen Teil (72) und durch die zweite innere Dichtvorrichtung (92) und in die Bohrung (58) des rohrförmigen Mundstückglieds (68) erstreckt, aufweist.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de remplissage pour remplir avec une matière un récipient (10) par l'intermédiaire d'un passage récepteur (12) d'une longueur prédéterminée dans ce récipient, ce dispositif comprenant un boîtier (16) comportant un passage de remplissage (18) pour établir une communication avec le passage récepteur (12) du récipient (10), une source de vide (24) pour extraire les gaz du récipient (10) et du passage de remplissage (18), un moyen (40) d'amenée de matière pour amener la matière jusqu'au passage de remplissage (18) pour remplir le récipient (10) par l'intermédiaire du passage récepteur (12), un moyen (38) de commande de distribution présentant un état "en marche" pour permettre à la matière de s'écouler depuis le moyen (40) d'amenée de matière jusqu'au passage de remplissage (18) et un état "arrêté" pour mettre fin à cet écoulement et isoler de façon étanche le moyen (40) d'amenée de matière vis-à-vis du passage de remplissage (18), un magasin (26, 125) à bouchons pour stocker la multiplicité de bouchons (28) en vue de distribuer les bouchons un par un au passage de remplissage (18), de manière que le bouchon (28) soit engagé dans le passage récepteur (12) du récipient (10), et pour maintenir une étanchéité vis-à-vis du vide entre le magasin (26, 125) à bouchons et le passage de remplissage (18) afin de maintenir un vide dans ce dernier, un ajutage (56) comportant un passage central (58) s'étendant dans cet ajutage depuis une extrémité distale (60) de ce dernier et pouvant être déplacé depuis une position initiale à travers le passage de remplissage (18) jusqu'à une position d'enfoncement pour porter contre un bouchon (28) et enfoncer le bouchon (28) dans le passage récepteur (12) de récipient (10), de manière à obturer hermétiquement ce récipient (10), une sonde (62) disposée dans ledit passage central (58) de l'ajutage (56) et pouvant se déplacer entre une position rappelée et une position de détection s'étendant à travers le passage de remplissage (18) et jusque dans le passage récepteur (12) du récipient (10) pour fournir un signal d'état rempli lorsque le niveau de la matière dans le récipient (10) atteint la sonde (62) afin de commander le moyen (38) de commande de distribution, un moyen (76, 78, 80) d'actionnement de sonde pour déplacer la sonde (62) entre ladite position rappelée et ladite position de détection, et un moyen (84,86) d'actionnement d'ajutage pour déplacer l'ajutage (56) entre ladite position initiale et ladite position d'enfoncement, le moyen (76) d'actionnement de sonde étant supporté (88) par le moyen (86) d'actionnement d'ajutage en vue de se déplacer avec ce dernier lors de l'actionnement dudit moyen d'actionnement d'ajutage et en vue de se déplacer par rapport audit ajutage en déplaçant ladite sonde entre la position rappelée et la position de détection.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait que la sonde (62) comprend une thermistance (106) dont la résistance varie avec la température, une source (108, 110, 112) de courant constant reliée à la thermistance (106) pour chauffer cette thermistance (106), et un moyen de détection (114, 116, 118, 120, 122) pour détecter une variation de la résistance de la thermistance (106) en réponse à une variation de la température de la thermistance (106) par suite de son contact avec la matière à un niveau de matière dans le récipient (10) afin de fournir le signal d'état rempli de manière à placer le moyen (38) de commande de distribution dans ledit état "arrêté".

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en outre par le fait que le moyen (38) de commande de distribution comprend une plateforme (44) destinée à la réception de la matière en provenance du moyen (40) d'amenée de matière et un moyen générateur de vibrations pour faire vibrer la plateforme (44) dans ledit état "en marche" pour distribuer la matière depuis la plateforme (44) quand cette dernière est soumise à des vibrations par le moyen générateur de vibrations.

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait que le moyen (38) de commande de distribution comprend une vanne de distribution (48, 52) disposée entre la plateforme (44) et le passage de remplissage (18) et pouvant se déplacer entre une position ouverte permettant l'écoulement de la matière à travers cette vanne et une position fermée pour assurer l'étanchéité vis-à-vis du vide entre le moyen (40) d'amenée de matière et le passage de remplissage (18).

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait que le moyen générateur de vibrations se trouve dans l'état "arrêté" en réponse au signal d'état rempli.

6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait que le boîtier (16) comprend une cavité (64) d'ajutage disposée au-dessus du passage de remplissage (18), l'ajutage (56) étant supporté de façon coulissante dans cette cavité (64) d'ajutage, et un premier moyen (90) d'étanchéité interne disposé entre le boîtier (16) et l'ajutage (56) pour isoler de façon étanche le passage de remplissage (18) vis-à-vis de la cavité (64) d'ajutage.

7. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait que l'ajutage (56) comprend une cavité (70) de sonde disposée au-dessus du passage central (58) de l'ajutage (56), cette sonde (62) étant supportée de façon coulissante dans la cavité (70) de sonde, et un second moyen (92) d'étanchéité interne est disposé entre l'ajutage (56) et la sonde (62) pour isoler de façon étanche le passage central (58) vis-à-vis de la cavité (70) de sonde.

8. Dispositif selon la revendication 7, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait qu'il comprend un premier moyen (94) d'étanchéité externe disposé entre la cavité (64) d'ajutage et l'ajutage (56) pour isoler de façon étanche la cavité d'ajutage vis-à-vis de l'environnement extérieur.

9. Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait qu'il comprend un second moyen (98) d'étanchéité externe disposé entre la cavité (70) de sonde et la sonde (62) pour isoler de façon étanche la cavité (70) de sonde vis-à-vis de l'environnement extérieur.

10. Disposât selon la revendication 9, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait qu'il comprend un moyen (100, 104) d'amenée de gaz pour amener sélectivement un gaz jusqu'au passage central (58) de l'ajutage (56) en-desous du second moyen (92) d'étanchéité interne pour libérer le vide dans le passage central (58) et dans le passage de remplissage (18) avant de supprimer l'étanchéité entre le récipient (10) et le passage de remplissage (18).

11. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait qu'il comprend un moyen (100, 102, 104) d'amenée de gaz pour amener sélectivement un gaz jusqu'à la cavité (64) d'ajutage en-dessous du premier moyen (94) d'étan- chéite externe et jusqu'au passage central (58) de l'ajutage (56) en-dessous du second moyen (98) d'étanchéité externe.

12. Dispositif selon la revendication 11, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait qu'il comprend un ajutage (56) comprenant une partie (66) analogue à un piston disposée de façon coulissante dans la cavité (64) d'ajutage et s'étendant hors du boîtier (16), et un élément tubulaire (68) d'ajutage comportant intérieurement ledit passage central (58) et ayant un diamètre extérieur plus petit que la partie (66) analogue à un piston, ledit élément tubulaire (68) d'ajutage s'étendant vers le bas depuis la partie (66) analogue à un piston à travers le premier moyen (90) d'etancheite interne et jusque dans le passage de remplissage (18).

13. Dispositif selon la revendication 12, caractérisé, en outre, par le fait que la sonde (62) comprend une partie cylindrique (72) disposée de façon coulissante dans la cavité (70) de sonde et s'étendant hors de la partie (66) analogue à un piston de l'ajutage (56) et une sonde (74) analogue à une tige et s'étendant vers le bas depuis la partie cylindrique (72) à travers le second moyen (92) d'étanchéité interne et jusque dans le passage central (58) de l'élément tubulaire (68) d'ajutage.

Drawing